Formerly "Black Dog Blog". I changed the name since these pages are not aimed at dog-lovers and there are many "Black Dog Blogs". This blog is intended to offer odds and ends of information that I hope will be interesting and amusing. Perhaps less amusing will be my occasional rants and metaphorical sighs about and at the world we live in, its governance and population.

Why this Blog?

A place where I can lament the changing times; for eccentric comments on current affairs and for unfashionable views, expressed I hope, in cogent style; also occasional cris de coeur largely concerned, I regret to say, with myself.

Comments

I welcome your comments, so do please write. Please note however that all comments are moderated prior to publication. Whilst I fully appreciate that life can be frustrating, nevertheless, abuse, SMS language and illiteracy will not be tolerated!

Sunday, 12 April 2009

Operetta - and Blogging

A curious subject this, for what is generally a rant blog, but having lacked inspiration for a couple of weeks, and feeling disinclined to comment about the G20, Jade Goody etc. I have been somewhat lazy.

However, as often happens, the Devil finds work for idle hands and I came across a wonderful parody of a famous Gilbert and Sullivan song. I have no intention of writing here about this famous partnership and of course Wikipedia has an excellent entry about them here.

The original song is from The Pirates of Penzance: "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-general":

This video will remind you of the tune

I am the very model of a modern Major-GeneralI've information vegetable, animal, and mineralI know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historicalFrom Marathon to Waterloo, in order categoricalI'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematicalI understand equations, both the simple and quadraticalAbout binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' newsWith many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse

With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuseWith many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuseWith many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotepotenuse

I'm very good at integral and differential calculusI know the scientific names of beings animalculousIn short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralI am the very model of a modern Major-General

In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralHe is the very model of a modern Major-General

I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc'sI answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradoxI quote in elegiacs all the crimes of HeliogabalusIn conics I can floor peculiarities parabolousI can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and ZoffaniesI know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of AristophanesThen I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din aforeAnd whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore

And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense PinaforeAnd whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense PinaforeAnd whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinapinafore

Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiformAnd tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniformIn short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralI am the very model of a modern Major-General

In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralHe is the very model of a modern Major-General

In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin"When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelinWhen such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary atAnd when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat"When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunneryWhen I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunneryIn short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategyYou'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee

You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a geeYou'll say a better Major-General had never sat a geeYou'll say a better Major-General had never sat a sat a gee

For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventuryHas only been brought down to the beginning of the centuryBut still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralI am the very model of a modern Major-General

But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineralHe is the very model of a modern Major-General

I am the very model of a blogger very general.I've a life that's existential and really quite ephemeral.I know things geographical and sometimes cosmological,From Timbuktu to Doctor Who and space that's hyperbolical.

I'm known to take up stances that are seemingly theatrical,I sometimes put up blogs that are rhetorical not factual,About political positions I express the strongest views,With oh such vitriolic comments as I send to those j'accuse.

With oh such vitriolic comments as I send to those j'accuse. With oh such vitriolic comments as I send to those j'accuse.With oh such vitriolic comments as I send to those j'accuse.

I'm seen as someone serious and sometimes perspicacious,I eschew every posting that is trivial or scribacious.In short, I have a life that's existential and ephemeral,I am the very model of a blogger very general.

In short, he has a life that's existential and ephemeral,He is the very model of a blogger very general.

I know a pyrric victory can be somewhat heterodox,I answer the agnostics, I've a liking for unorthodox,I quote from almanacs all those predictions quite vicarious,In comics I enjoy their blogs nefarious, hilarious.I follow fellow blogger's trials, their lows to their epiphanies,I know all those subscribing to the Greek school of Diogenese,Then I can learn so very many things I never knew before,And now "postglacial isostatic re-adjustment" makes one more.

And now "postglacial isostatic re-adjustment" makes one more.And now "postglacial isostatic re-adjustment" makes one more.And now "postglacial isostatic re-adjustment" makes one more.

Then I comment on those blogs that I think do clearly misinform,And tell you ev'ry detail seeking your opinion to reform.In short, I have a life that's existential and ephemeral,I am the very model of a blogger very general.

In short, he has a life that's existential and ephemeral,He is the very model of a blogger very general.

In fact, when I know Tok Pisin, and the fine art of baldaquinWhen I can talk of Anne Boleyn and why King 'enry did 'er inWhen such affairs as sorties and surprises I can Google at,And whose tomb bears the inscription, "palman qui meruit ferat".When I have learnt to progress beyond English rudimentary,When I know more of grammar than a practiced prothonotary,In short, when I've a smattering of syntactic ergativity,You'll take bloggers very general into the fraternity.

You'll take bloggers very general into the fraternity.You'll take bloggers very general into the fraternity.You'll take bloggers very general into the fraternity.

For though my general knowledge, which is more than rudimentaryHas only been brought down by short-term failings of my memory.But still, I have a life that's existential and ephemeralI am the very model of a blogger very general

But still, he has a life that's existential and ephemeralHe is the very model of a blogger very general

Excellent and jolly clever I think.

Finally, whilst looking for the video above, I found another, posted by one Mr Grumpy:

Let's hear about it

About Me

A smoker for over 40 years, I am, contrary to all the statistics the nanny government feeds us, still here, and, as I have been for the past thirty years, still grumbling about so-called democratic governments interfering in our personal lives. And if you are worried about "passive smoking" don't bother complaining: I don't believe the data! The same applies to the outrageous rubbish spouted about "global warming" which of course is a lie.